mystery

To summarize my experience in one word
CRAZY!
The craziest anime I’ve seen till now.

Before I start, an advice to potential viewers who want to start seeing this show.
Do not judge the genre of this anime based on the opening you see (its not about gambling or Halloween for that matter) as I was one of them. The first time I stopped watching the series after watching the opening.

Lets start by taking a look at the story..
One of the best stories told in non-linear fashion that I have ever seen. The best part is the non-linear story-telling doesn’t bog the story or the viewer down. The story concentrates on what mostly happened during three years – 1930, 1931 and 1932. It connects seemingly unrelated events to build a story that is larger than anything you would’ve imagined in the beginning. So much so that you begin anticipating as to how things reached to the point of where they are in the future from where it was in the past.
The editing done on this series is also one of the best – gives nothing way and carries the sense of mystery throughout.
Also there is humor which always left me grinning (especially scenes which had Isaac Dian and Miria Harvent; Isaac and Miria continue to spread happiness unconsciously wherever they go) and some scenes really make you laugh out loud.
That’s all I can say about the story without giving out any spoilers.

Characters
Has the craziest cast of characters I’ve seen. And the number of characters is pretty large too. Again this doesn’t bog the story down. In fact by the end of the series you will remember the name of all significant characters and their quirks. Also the characters remain etched in your memories long after you’ve finished watching the show.

Animation and Music
Neither is the animation lacking in any way nor is it over the top. It is enough to tell the story, with nothing remarkable standing out.
The action scenes are executed very well. The violence is plenty and all of it had a realistic and raw feeling to it.
The background music is combination of jazz and sometimes the high pitch from the symphony which stands out as the theme music of Baccano!(usually comes around the half-way break and the ending of the episodes)
Overall the background music for scenes never felt misplaced and always felt right – which is all you need. I almost never skipped through the opening sequence as the tempo of the jazz just seemed to fit the craziness of Baccano!

Overall I rate it 9.5/10
A masterpiece which I would whole-heartedly recommend anyone who has already watched some anime.

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‘Tatami’, the cultural knowledge of which probably is visually clear to everyone who have been accustomed to watching anime for a while now, you’ll know when i say that it is a type of flooring material used in Traditional styled Japanese houses. The word is actually derived from the verb ‘tatamu’ which means, to fold or pile. Now, placing the word side by side particularly with the word ‘Galaxy’ definitely has a connotative implication of ‘claustrophobia’ which i guess most people did perceive. Yes, the shows throws the protagonist’s life as living in a 4.5 tatami room, almost like in a huge cube and the events occurring all around his college life are directly relate-able to the claustrophobic experiences he comprehends while expounding in the aspects of the space.

The show exhibits traits of dark comedy, much relate-able to the anime ‘Sayonara Zetsubo sensi’, heck even the protagonists look way similar. Though Itoshiko is a character who completely taints himself to pessimistic way of life exhibiting suicidal tendencies, the protagonist here is ideologically much more alive and doesn’t live by tending to hang himself everyday, nor is his life psychologically contorted to the point of living every second in horror within the walls of his apartment, as seen in the films of Roman Polanski who also dealt with the theme of claustrophobia. The show also perhaps is relate-able to the anime ‘Welcome to NHK’ which portrays the life of a shut in/NEET, but the line differentiating both the series is on the level of layered and visual symbolisms which is the main concern for this series, a symbolic succession resulting in an exhalting fulfillment. Continue reading →

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This anime is based on the manga “The Skullman” by Kazuhiko Himamoto but it wasn’t his original idea. Kazuhiko being an avid fan of Shotaro Ishinomori, just revived his original work “Skullman” and created a story around those original 3 chapters created by Ishinomori. Ishinomori made this manga while working on “Kamen Rider” which is a classic and highly successful series of that time, original “Skullman” ended up being the building block for KR. Continue reading →

Lain Iwakura is the sort of ordinary girl who isn’t much tech savvy in the era of computers but a string of events consequently leads her to get devoured by the world of ‘wired’. So much for a plot summary, for the rest Lain lives up to it’s name as a bonafied mindfuck of a series.

Speaking of a theme or central idea, well Lain doesn’t have one… to be precise the theme is not bound by any single strand of interpretation for what i recon Lain throws at us several dimensions of symbolism, at almost every scene. Most of the time you’ll be just blankly staring at the screen going “What the fuck is happening ?”, yes.. Lain is just Incomprehensible at almost every second, and honestly I wouldn’t recommend watching the series to anyone Well here’s my take on the series : Continue reading →

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It’s proved to be one of those shows where I’m glad that I tried them out even after them having “dull” synopsis and quite “boring” genre (Mystery, Romance, Supernatural…except mystery none piqued my interest).Any way I’m glad that I picked it up and wondered that how misleading synopsis can make you “almost” drop a good series.

In my opinion, Bakemonogatari proved to be more of a psychological thriller with a bit of horror taste on the top…and i’m not saying this because of the way anime is “directed”, instead of talking about it, It’d be better to experience it yourself.

Anyway, it’s been presented in “arc” style. Each arc is like 2-3 episodes long except last one.Also, I found two negative points about this series.

At times, you will feel that the “psychological” feel is being imposed on you or rather it’s been exaggerated at some points…and too much of anything feels bad right.

Some cuts are very-very quick…which feels rather annoying at times.

Our main character is again a “typical” nice-guy type protagonist who likes to help those in problem around him…all the more if they are girls. He doesn’t really develop much character-wise (maybe a bit towards the end). As for the other characters,there is quite minimal to no development in them…as I said, it’s arc based…so they can only get maximum character development in those 2-3 episodes only. The only character I felt to be gone through most character development will be Senjougahara Hitagi-chan. Continue reading →

When I first read the name, the first word that reflected in my mind was “Abracadabra”..maybe that is what it means in Korean…

Kindly note, my views usually contain spoilers, and are definitely not poised to form a review’s. They are more like what people discuss while coming out from movie theater.

Annarasumunara is what I see as a coming-of-age Korean drama which is depicted in a webcomic format. The author, lemme check, Ha-Il_won or Hailgwon, got this idea while returning from a circus. He used the magic as a motif for portraying passive , behind the surface , intuitive feelings which people seem to forget as their life becomes more rule based with time, money, prestige, pride and most importantly ..people, involved.

Imagine yourself taking the same route to your destination, lets say by Bus. One day you wish to travel by your own automobile, you will feel the travelling experience totally different , maybe you will remember for times that come. One of the many plot devices of Annarasumunara teaches you that.

With just 3 Volumes (27 Chapters) long, neither you would feel the pace being too fast, nor the plot being too small to enjoy. Ah-yee mesmerizes you by constantly breaking the fourth wall with her letters to her Mom (Us!) as she narrates her feelings silently in words (with a neat handwriting, the typesetter was good!) Continue reading →